Decorative device



Oct. 3, 1944.

C. A. HORKY DECORATIVE DEVICE Filed July 14, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 g airle CZ.

C. A. HORKY DECORATIVE DEVICE Oct. 3, 1944.

Filed July 14, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. @arZas @bbry Patented Oct. 3, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

My invention relates to devices of the kind used for household, store or window decoration. More specifically it relates to a novelty which simulates a tree or plant in a conventional manner, and

which is capable of embodiment in a number of attractive forms.

An object of my invention is to provide a device of the kind described which can be manufactured without requiring any metal.

Another object is the provision of a decorative device which is durable, and easily cleaned when necessary.

A further object is the provision of a device readily adaptable for illumination by a built-in lamp, which will throw light on the decorative panels and enhance the attractive effect thereof.

Still other objects are the provision of a structure utilizing panels which can be conveniently made in quantities by an economical method; the provision of a structure for holding glass or other panels without danger Of their falling out; the provision in a modified form, of a wall plaque in which a mirror is employed to simulate a full-v round effect; and the provision, in another modified form, of a novelty simulating a, potted plant.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a device embodying my invention, in the conventionalized form of a Christmas tree;

Figure 2 is a top View thereof;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a top view of a modified form of the device of Figures 1-4, made up as a wall plaque;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view, partly in vertical section, of the device of Figure 5;

Figure '7 is an elevational view of another form of ornamental novelty in which my invention may be embodied;

Figure 8 is a top view thereof;

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view, taken on line 9-9 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner in which the transparent panels may be made up from a rectangular sheet of material; Figure 11 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a modified form of base construction.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Figures 1-4, the base portion is indicated generally by the reference numeral II]. It may consist of a hollow shell l2 provided with a bottom closure I4. The shell has a top Wall I6 from the center of which depends a tube l8 preferably at least partially closed at its bottom end, as by a flange 20. The shell I2 may be made of metal, but is equally well adapted to manufacture from any of the many plastic molding material now popular. I have shown it as being hollow for the accommodation of a lamp, but if no lamp is desired, the base can be easily and cheaply made from wood, in which case a central bore would take the place of the depending tube l8.

The tube I8 receives a central post 22 which I make preferably from glass, although wood or any other'suitable material may be used. Ar-' ranged around the central post in a radial manner are plates or panels 24, preferably formed also of glass or some similar transparent material.

In the case of the device illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, these plates are triangular in their general outline, and as will be later explained, they are conveniently made in a right triangular form, one of the points being truncated. They are mounted with their hypotenuse sides adjacent the central post, since this places their lower edges 26 on an incline, as may be seen in Figures 1 and 3.

The top portion of the base It] including the tube [8, is slotted to receive the lower edges 26 of the plates 24 and to hold them in their radial arrangement The slots are designated by the numeral 28. Note that the more central portions of the slot (in the tube 18, Figure 3) are deeper than the outer portions, thus conforming to the inclined lower edge of the plates, so that the plates tend to slide toward the center.

At the top of the post 22 I provide a cap member 30 which slides over the post, and may be cemented or otherwise fastened thereto in any desired manner. The cap has a depending peripheral flange 32 which embraces the upper ends of the plates 24, and holds them firmly in contact with the center post. The cap also serves to prevent upward movement of the plates, and it will beobserved that they are thus retained against movement out of the slots 28, because of the inclination of the lower edges 26 and the corresponding shape of the slots 28. Unless the plates are allowed to move upwardly, their lower edges cannot be removed from the slots. Hence, bringing the cap member 30 down into engageinternally which gives an attractive effect.

' spect to the tube I8.

be applied in a number of colors, to make a very attractive display or ornamental device. The radially extending plates, each bearing such decoration, give the full-round effect of a real tree.

The cap member 30 and base may be painted;'or they may be covered withcrystal powder, shredded Cellophane or similar decorative coate As previously mentioned, the base l0 may be provided with means for illuminating the transparent panels 24, and causing the design or other pattern imprinted thereon to stand out strongly. The illuminating means consists of a socket 34 receiving a lamp bulb 36, and preferably carrying a reflector 38 by which stray light from the bulb is directed upwardly. The base is then provided with openings 40 in the side walls, preferably at points beneath the lower edges 26 of the transparent panel, and openings 42 in the top wall [6, preferably at points between the panels 24, so that light will be thrown on the surface. 7

'When an illuminated base is used as described, the cap 30 may be provided with a reflector 44 recessed in its bottom side, toredirect beams of light on to the top portions of the transparent panels.

The opening 46 at the lower end of the tube I8 allows the central post 22 to be illuminated A quartz or lucite rod may be used if desired, conducting the light by internal reflection in the well-known manner and creating an interesting luminous effect at the opposite end 48 of the central post.

When the illuminating system is omitted, as

, when a solid wood base is employed in the man- The so-called silk screen process is excellent for this purpose and the design can surface.

Since there is no light in the base, the support post need not be transparent, and may be made of wood although it may be desirable, for attractive appearance, to use glass or other material.

At the top of the base 120 a shallow counterbore i5 is made, leaving an annular rim [1 at the outer edge of the top portion of the base I2C. Radial slots 28C are cut in the rim H, to receive the lower edges of the panels 24. It should be noted that the counterbore I5 is deeper than the slots 280, so that the inclined lower edge of the panel 24 will rest in the slots, with a tendency for the panels to wedge or move toward the center post 220. A pad of felt ill, or other soft material, may be provided for resilient engagement with the lower edges of the panels.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a modified form suitable for a wall plaque. The base IZA is made half-round; as seen in Figure 5. A support strip 22A is connected to the base, and at its upper end has fastened to it the cap member A which is, in general, similar to the cap member 3!! previously described, but half-round. A pad 3| of felt or similar material is used in the manner. previously suggested. The support strip 22A carries aback board 23 which may be of plywood, heavy cardboard or composition board or the like. The latter serves to support a plate or panel 24A which is, in general, similar to the plates 24, except that it is silvered on its rear The'result of course is that the for- 'wardly projecting panels 24 are reflected in the. panel 24A, so that the eye receives the impression of a full-round structure just like that shown in Figures 1-4.

The support strip 22A may be provided with a hanger ring or loop 25 by which thedevice can be supported on a nail or peg in the Wall. Alternatively, the decorative novelty may be stood on its base, as at the back of a dresser, table or counter.

ner previously suggested, the reflector M is not process or other method. The desired shape of the panel is obtained-from standard sheets of glass without any waste of material.

Figure 11 illustrates a solid base construction.

The base member I2C may economically be made of wood, although any other desired material may be employed. A'central bore l8C receives the support post 220, corresponding in this re-' The post'is glued in the bore, or otherwise secured therein. H H

The principal advantage of this kind of layout is that each panel may bear a somewhat different design, yet the entire group a can be printed simultaneously by the silk screen In this modified form the essential features of the structure by which the panels 24 are retained, are the same. into a recess on the underside of the cap 30A and their inclined lower edges are received in inclined slots 28 in the base HA.

The same general idea is subject to embodiment in various other forms, of which Figures 7-9 illustrate an example. The form here shown is a potted plant. The pot 50 is provided with a plug 52 fittingclosely in the bottom. The plug carries a central post 22B which corresponds to the post 22 previously described, and likewise may be made of glass, wood, or other appropriate material. The remaining portion of the cavityin the pot is substantially filled by segmental members 54 which serve as spacers between which are slots 28B in which the panels 24B are received. The inside walls of the pot are inclined as seen in Figure 9, and the sides 26B of the panels are correspondingly inclined so that the weight of the panels tends to wedge them down into the pot, and into close relation with the central post 22B. The advantage of this structure is that it stays in place when it isput together, yet the panel 24B may simply be lifted out for cleaning when desired; The panels may be provided with any suitably applied decoration 56 in the nature of flowers, leaves, or other ornamental representations. 7

It will be apparent that the flower pot of Figures 7-9 could be made half-round, in the form of a wall plaque,

That is, the panel extend Where the incline of the edge which fits into the base slots is substantial, as in Figures 7-9,

no top cap is necessary to retain the plates in assembly, since their own weight is suflicient for the purpose. However, if it be desired to make the device more rugged for handling or shipping, a top retainer may be provided on the supporting member or post.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a decorative novelty device, a base, a post of transparent material mounted upon said base, a plurality of slots being formed in said base, translucent panels having portions of their edges received in said slots, a source of light in said base, said base having openings formed therein aligned with the edges of said panels and the end of the post respectively through which light from said source has access to the edges of said panels and the end of said post.

2. A decorative novelty comprising a base, a mirror supported in upright position thereon, a plurality of slots being formed in said base in front of said mirror, and transparent panels mounted in said slots, the edges of the panels which coact with the slots being inclined downwardly toward the mirror.

- 3. An illuminated novelty including a base having a source of light therein, a, central post of transparent material mounted upon said base, a

plurality of slots being formed in said base in radial relation around said post, and a plurality of translucent panels having portions of their edges received in said slots, the lower edges of said panels being inclined inwardly and downwardly toward said post, whereby the weight of said panels causes them to tend to move inwardly toward said post, and openings in said base aligned with the edges of said panels and the end of the post respectively whereby light from said source has access to said panels and the end of said post.

4. In a decorative device, a base having a central recess and an annular upstanding rim on the upper side thereof, radial slots in said rim, said recess being deeper than said slots, and panels received in said slots, said panels having inclined lower edges, with portions in said recess lower than portions in said slots.

5. A decorative novelty including a base with a central recess and radial slots extending outward from said recess, said recess being deeper than said slots, a post mounted centrally on said base, a plurality of panels arranged radially to said post, with their lower edges received in said slots, means on said post retaining said panels in said slots, and a pad of resilient material in said recess bearing against said panels.

CHARLES A. HORKY. 

